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Come to Montrose December 2-4 for a weekend full of events to welcome the Christmas season. The County Seat nestled in the Endless Mountains of Susquehanna County captures the joy of the holiday season and celebrates the small town Christmas spirit. There is something for all ages to enjoy including many free events, restaurants and vendors for food and Christmas shopping. The Village Green, as well as the businesses and churches offer a variety of traditional and new events.

Friday begins with crafts for kids, music, refreshments, Christmas and décor shopping. The Santa Roll at Chocolates by Leopold and the United Fire Company's Parade of Lights kick off the weekend packed with holiday events. Two groups of twenty-five people with tickets will enjoy the "Take a Bite Out of Christmas" on a hayride stopping at five different decorated and welcoming Montrose homes including the Community Foundation and ending at the lovely Rosemont Inn featuring "Luna Wine & Table." Each stop up and down Lake Avenue will offer merry-making with festive foods and drinks, a tour, a little history of Montrose in a welcoming celebratory atmosphere.

Highlights of Saturday filled with activities include the Jingle Bell 5K Run/Walk, photos and letter writing with Santa, shopping at the many businesses and churches, bake sales, raffles and Christmas crafts. Free movies, live dancing and music, and caricature drawings can be found throughout the town. Train rides, hayrides and carriage rides transport visitors. Families and children will enjoy pony rides, the petting zoo, Christmas card making, cookie decorating, S'more making, balloon twisting, reindeer food making and Christmas story reading. Chainsaw Carving and Blacksmithing Demonstrations are offered throughout the day on The Green. The Festival of Trees will be displayed at The Rosemont Inn and auctioned via silent bids during the weekend festivities. Contests include The Gingerbread Houses as well as a Best Dressed Elf Costume and Elf Spaghetti Eating. Whether it snows or not, snowball fights with Buddy the Elf will be on The Green.

Many events continue on Sunday with the annual holiday community Christmas Chorale in the sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church, 367 Church Street, to fill you with the holiday spirit. For a complete schedule of events for Christmas in Montrose go to the website christmasinmontrose.com. Plan your visit to experience a truly small-town, something for everyone "Hallmark Christmas movie" celebration.

Penn State Extension Master Gardeners in Susquehanna County received honors at the 'Gather and Grow-Together Again' statewide conference September 22-24 in Scranton, PA. The conference, held every 2 years throughout the state serves as a professional development opportunity for Master Gardener coordinators and volunteers.

Susquehanna County Master Gardeners received 1st place statewide under the category: Presentation/Workshop for their 'Digging for Answers' podcast. Master Gardeners partnered with the Susquehanna County Historical Society & Free Library Association to host the podcast. The format is to answer general gardening questions submitted by members of the community and interview guests from various organizations. The goal of the podcast is to educate listeners on research based best gardening and environmental practices. To access the podcast, visit the library's website: www.susqcolibrary.org and click programs/services, and pull down to podcasts. 'Digging for Answers' can be found on any listening platform: Spotify, ITunes, Google Podcast.

Susquehanna County Master Gardeners received 3rd place statewide under the category: Demonstration Garden for their educational demonstration garden located at the Penn State Extension Office, 88 Chenango Street in Montrose. The demonstration garden features 11 different styles of garden beds, all planted with a variety of vegetables and fruits that are donated to local senior centers and food pantries. The handicapped accessible garden offers gardening programs and tours throughout the year. Each year, seasoned Master Gardeners work with the current Master Gardener basic training class to mentor the planning, planting, and maintenance of the garden.

The Hilton Scranton Conference Center hosted the statewide conference. Over 35 diverse educational lectures were presented. Topics included pruning, terrestrial orchids, Asian jumping worms, and engaging stories of famous gardening authors.

Master Gardeners had the opportunity to take part in bus tours to Cornell Botanic Gardens, Cutler Botanic Gardens, Grey Towers-the home of Gifford Pinchot, the Nature Conservancy's Tannersville Cranberry Bog, Rodale Institute, Anthracite Heritage Museum at McDade Park, and the Alliance Landfill.

The Penn State Master Gardener volunteer program provides services to the community including a garden hotline which helps homeowners answer gardening questions with research-based information. The public has access to insect identification as well as Penn State lab services for identifying plant diseases. Master Gardeners offer workshops, webinars, youth programing, targeted presentations for organizations, poison prevention programing for first grade and self-guided demonstration gardens.

Master Gardeners are holding their annual premium wreath and poinsettia fundraiser. The deadline to order is Monday, October 31st and pick up will be Friday, December 2 from 3:00 - 7:00pm at the Penn State Extension Office, 88 Chenango Street, Montrose. These lush wreaths and poinsettias are large gorgeous premium plants from a local grower. There will be a variety of poinsettia colors for the 6 ½ inch pot size which usually have 6+ blooms for $16: red glitter, pink, white and classic red. The large 8 ½ inch pot for $35-red only will boast 14+ blooms. The lush green wreaths come in 2 sizes as well: 18 inches for $26 and 24 inches for $32.

Thank you to the Susquehanna County Commissioners for supporting Penn State Extension and the local Master Gardener programing in Susquehanna County.

For more information on the Master Gardener program or an order form for the poinsettia and wreath fundraiser, call Penn State Extension Master Gardener in Susquehanna County at 570-666-9003 or email: susquehannamg@psu.edu.